Editor's note: Apple admirers and competitors alike are mourning the death of Steve Jobs. The man behind the iPhone, iPad and other wildly popular devices died at age 56 after a long battle with cancer. We're taking a look at the reactions and tributes pouring in from around the world.

[Updated at 7:57 p.m.] The creative tributes continued to ping through cyberspace late Thursday. Next Media Animation produced an interesting video tribute to the tech icon.

[Updated at 7:37 p.m.] Onigun Studio featured a Steve Jobs tribute for its Flickr-based Project 365, which aims to display a different photo every day of the year.

[Updated at 7:23 p.m.] The United Nations released a statement praising Steve Jobs as a "global force" for mankind.

"Steve Jobs was unlike any other," the world body said through a spokesperson. "He saw what others did not. He believed above all else in the power of human ingenuity - to create 'tools' that people could use, that would not only improve our lives but, quite literally, change the world. He was a truly global force.

[Updated at 7:06 p.m.] Robert A. Iger, president and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, released a statement Thursday on Steve Jobs‚Äô passing, calling him ‚Äúa great friend as well as a trusted advisor.‚ÄĚ

‚ÄúSteve was such an ‚Äėoriginal,‚Äô with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time,‚ÄĚ Iger said.

Disney World and Disney Land started flying flags at half-staff Thursday in remembrance of Jobs,¬† Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez told CNN.

[Updated at 6:35 p.m.] Awesome Steve Jobs illustrations were the order of the day on the web. At DeviantArt.com, user dylanroscover designed a Steve Jobs tribute using ‚ÄúMotter Tektura, Apple Garamond, Myriad, Univers, Gill Sans, and Volkswagen AG Rounded, fonts present in Apple branding and products,‚ÄĚ he said.

[Updated at 6:00 p.m.] "What made Steve Jobs truly great is that he was only interested in doing truly great things," U2 frontman and activist Bono said in a statement.

"He was tenacious in the extreme, his toughness never more evident than these past¬† few years in his fight for his life as well as his companies. Steve told me as proud as he was of Apple and Pixar, his real pride was his family. ¬†He was a thoughtful and tender father, and loved nothing more than hanging out in the house with his belle Laurene and the kids. I already miss him ... one of a very small group of anarchic Americans who through technology literally invented the 21st century. We will all miss the hardware software Elvis."

[Updated at 5:30 p.m.] Recalling the job offer that changed his life, former Apple CEO John Sculley said, "Steve was in his classic blue jeans and running shows, mock turtleneck ... and he said, 'Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life or do you want to change the world?'" Friends and colleagues of the Apple co-founder talk about his life and legacy in the moving video below.

[Updated at 5:09 p.m.] Social networking sites continued to flow with fresh outpourings - pics, graphics, videos - of love and admiration for Steve Jobs, including this pictorial tribute from Cincinnati-based digital artist and designer Allan Rosenow based on a Jobs quote.

[Updated at 4:54 p.m.] iReporter Evette Munz of Carmel, New York, said Steve Jobs' contribution to technology has had a profound affect on her autistic son BJ, who uses an iPad during therapy sessions "to help with words, writing, counting, emoting, and dexterity of his hands ... . It allows BJ to play and think at the same time."

The 4-year-old now can say about 100 words or "utterances," she said in an iReport. "Believe it or not, his most perfect sentence is, 'iPad, please Momma'."

[Updated at 4:19 p.m.] Panic, a tech company that makes MacIntosh software, put a picture of a young Steve Jobs on their homepage.

[Updated at 3:53 p.m.] Scott Pleasants, 40, of Lynchburg, Virginia, says the Apple II+ ‚Äúturned on a light‚ÄĚ for him in second grade: ‚ÄúIt was new, exciting and gave us a glimpse of the future.‚ÄĚ He now works as Liberty University‚Äôs Director of Engineering Technology.

‚ÄúI feel today like I felt the day John Lennon was killed or the day Allen Ginsberg died,‚ÄĚ he wrote in his iReport.

[Updated at 3:24 p.m.] ¬†Former Apple employee Parry Singh left an eloquent remembrance on Facebook¬†of his time with the tech giant: ‚ÄúMy business card ‚ÄėSales Manager ‚Äď Apple Computer, India‚Äô with the six color Apple logo still gives me as much joy & pride as it did back then.‚ÄĚ

‚ÄúI was extremely proud of heading a reagional office for Apple. It didn‚Äôt even strike me that my kingdom was a 5×5 cubicle in a business centre and I was the only employee at that time. Such is the power of the Apple brand.¬†Thank you for teaching me that one's worth is not measured by the size of one's office.‚ÄĚ

[Updated at 12:55 p.m.] As the world continues to pay tribute to Steve Jobs, the master showman and cult hero, it appears the appetite for more knowledge about the man is growing even more. For millennials, the interest may be high too, with some living in a world where Apple has always been a presence.

The book by Walter Isaacson, titled simply, "Steve Jobs," rocketed from 437 to No. 1 on Amazon's bestseller list - a spike of 43,000% - in the hours after Jobs' death, thanks to pre-orders.

[Updated at 12:34 p.m.] One of the other big reactions on the web to Steve Jobs' death has been remembering some of the iconic images that were a part of Apple's products. Like the "spinning wheel tribute" we mentioned below, the famous "sad mac" icon is now taking on a new meaning.

The words and icon have been included in thousands of tweets and even made it on the front page of the Bismark Tribune.

After news of Jobs' death on Wednesday night he and others flocked to the Apple store where in a moving tribute at 9:00 p.m. the Apple logo turned dark. You can watch it here.

[Updated at 11:30 a.m.] Nancy F. Koehn,¬† a historian at Harvard Business School who holds the James E. Robison chair of Business Administration, writes in a column for CNN.com that Jobs' central insight was that we live in transformative times.

"Steve Jobs died Wednesday at the age of 56. Within minutes of the announcement, Twitter and other digital channels were flooded with outpourings of grief for a very private man who leaves a very big mark on the world," she wrote. "It is the footprint, not of a manager or philanthropist, but of an entrepreneur. His legacy is that of an individual who used his drive, vision, curiosity and keen intelligence to follow new possibilities relentlessly without being deterred by the obstacles on his path."

[Updated at 11:09 a.m.] Omekongo Dibinga, an iReporter from Washington, weighs in on the loss of Steve Jobs:

‚ÄúDespite the great products has brought to the world, Steve Jobs' work as a motivator is his greatest creation. He is a classic example of what happens when we drown the naysayers and follow our passion. It is a lesson that will not pass me by. Rest in peace.‚ÄĚ

For those who know the "spinning wheel" so well, the tribute is simple but beautiful. When you mouse over the image on their website the text says: "there's always hope that if you sit and watch for long enough, the beachball will vanish and the thing in interrupted will return."

[Updated at 10:14 a.m.]¬† We knew Steve Jobs best as the face of Apple - the man who introduced the company's biggest products in front of cheering audiences filled with fans and journalists. He was in his element onstage in a black turtleneck and jeans, playing with the new iPod, iPhone or iPad. But Jobs also had a life offstage, one filled with celebrities, foreign leaders and, perhaps most importantly, his fans. See a gallery of Jobs' life offstage

[Updated at 9:51 a.m.]¬† Twitter user @geniusbartales, who says on his profile he shares stories from "the other side of the Genius Bar," relating to Apple's in store support tweeted a poignant, but simple photo.

"Self-explanatory. RT this. Not for me, but El Jefe himself," the tweet said.

[Updated at 9:46 a.m.] Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who started the company with Steve Jobs in 1976, spoke with Carol Costello, Christine Romans and Ali Velshi on CNN's "American Morning" about what it was like working with Jobs, and how he hopes the world will remember him.

[Updated at 9:24 a.m.] Former Facebook president Sean Parker posted a long note on his Facebook page in which he called Steve Jobs an "innovator, iconoclast and American hero."

"Today is an incredibly sad day for me, and indeed for anyone who considers themselves a technologist or entrepreneur. It is also a sad day for anyone who believes in the value of creativity and the importance of innovation, and for the millions of people who were touched by the creative genius evidenced in the many products and companies created by Steve Jobs throughout his remarkable career. Steve Jobs was the most important technology leader of our era‚ÄĒperhaps even the most important business leader of our era. He was also a unique figure in the world of business and technology, a man who demonstrated‚ÄĒmore so than any other‚ÄĒthat pure force of will, energy, and creative drive can change the world for the better," the note said.

"I was really sad to hear he passed, it's kind of a great loss in our technological society, there's certainly people who blaze the trail, and Steve Jobs is one of those guys," Criswell said. "I love the products, I'm such a huge fan of Apple products. It's technology that just lasts forever. My uncle has an 11 year old Apple laptop and it still runs, and you don't get that out of other brands."

[Updated at 8:48 a.m.] iReporter Ryan Navarro and his colleagues at the design group RipeConcepts in the Philippines were '"saddened by the news of a great innovator who has been very instrumental in putting together what could be the greatest invention of our generation."

Navarro has been a loyal Apple customer for thirteen years and Apple products can be seen in use throughout the company.

If he could have said one thing to Steve Jobs, it would have been: "Thank you and continue to stay hungry and foolish."

It seems many other Apple fans out there feel the same, echoing the sentiments Jobs said when he spoke at Stanford University in 2005. This morning #STAY HUNGRY is a top trend on Twitter.

[Updated at 8:41 a.m.] Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, paid tribute to Jobs in a tweet with one of his most known quotes and perhaps the one most telling about the man himself:

@CoryBooker: "Because the people who think they are crazy enough to change the world are the ones who do" Steve Jobs

[Updated at 8:35 a.m.] Simon Garfield, the author of "JUST MY TYPE: A Book About Fonts," published by Gotham Books, a member of Penguin Group USA, wrote an opinion column for CNN about "One thing we owe to Steve Jobs." And it might not be what you think. Here's a bit of his column below. You can continue reading his column here

"The news about the passing of Steve Jobs comes one day after a new iPhone was announced, a launch that took place without a man with a black polo neck presiding. And still, somehow, Steve Jobs dominated the proceedings. These last few months, as his illness kept him away from the office, it's been clear that we owe him for more than just upping the pixels on the phone camera and an ever-faster processor.

Even non-Mac believers - even anti-Mac folk - will acknowledge begrudgingly that he's been an invincible tech inspiration over the years. Simple really: much of the time he led and others followed. But there is something more fundamental to thank Jobs for - the very screen text you're reading now, the very fact that we can express ourselves digitally with emotion, clarity and variety.

Steve Jobs was the first to give us a real choice of fonts, and made Type Gods of us all."

One of the top trends on Twitter throughout the night was a simple: #iSad. Many tweets contained sentiments that the man who brought us the devices on which so many of us found out about his death had most certainly gone to iHeaven.

And now, as the Apple faithful, and tech fans only could, they are paying tribute to Jobs using his own products.

"As you may have guessed, done entirely on a Mac," he wrote. "Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues."

[Updated at 3:54 a.m. ET] "People like Steve Jobs change our world. My sincere condolences to his relatives and all those¬†who appreciated his intelligence and talent,"¬†Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wrote in his Twitter blog.

[Updated at 3:15 a.m.] ¬†Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company made the following statement on Jobs' passing:

"Steven Jobs was, and still is, an inspiration to many individuals and companies all over the world. His passing is a loss to innovators and visionaries everywhere, even here in Korea and the culture he fostered¬† will be a benchmark for decades to come.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time." [Updated at 1:59 a.m. ET] Reaction to Jobs' death from China, where Apple iPads and iPhones are assembled:¬†"When I head the news, I could not hold back my tears," wrote Yu Minghong, founder and CEO of New Oriental Education, one of the largest private education service provider in China. "Because of him, the world has become different. Because of him, the boring world has become alive, the glum world has become creative, because of him a drab world has become colorful."

[Updated at 9:44 p.m. ET] Statement from Meg Whitman, president and CEO of HP:

‚ÄúSteve Jobs was an iconic entrepreneur and businessman whose impact on technology was felt beyond Silicon Valley. He will be remembered for the innovation he brought to market and the inspiration he brought to the world.‚ÄĚ

[Updated at 9:35 p.m. ET] Statement from President Obama: "Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.

By building one of the planet‚Äôs most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity.

By making computers personal and putting the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun.¬† And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last.¬† Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve‚Äôs success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve‚Äôs wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him."

[Updated at 9:33 p.m. ET] YouTube founders¬†Chad Hurley and Steve Chen: "It was an honor to have worked with Steve Jobs. He will forever remain an inspiration. He will be sorely missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

[Updated at 9:31 p.m. ET] Google co-founder Sergey Brin: From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met.

On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much. My condolences to family, friends, and colleagues at Apple.

[Updated at 9:26 p.m. ET] Google co-founder Larry Page: I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google's are with his family and the whole Apple family.

[Updated at 9:22 p.m. ET] From CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti in New York: Outside Apple's 5th Avenue store (covered by scaffolding for construction), one sheet of white paper is posted on a wall.¬† A handwritten note reads "we will miss you Steve.¬† RIP."

In lower left hand corner, there is writing in Japanese.¬† An Asian woman says it reads "Rest in Peace." Security removed the sign.

A young woman came up and wrote RIP on the wall.¬† A man wearing a hard hat is now using solvent to wipe off the message.

[Updated at 9:05 p.m. ET] Social media sites on Wednesday night were flooded with talk of Jobs‚Äô death. There were more than 170,000 mentions of ‚ÄúRIP Steve Jobs‚ÄĚ on Twitter in the hour after his death was announced, according to the Twitter analysis site Topsy Labs.

‚ÄúWe all knew this was coming, sooner or later. I'm really surprised how shaken up I am about his death. But I grew up on all his creations,‚ÄĚ wrote Andy Carvin, a senior strategist at NPR and social media guru.

Others reflected on his contributions to technology and to the world.

‚ÄúThanks, Steve. You have influenced many and made the world a more beautiful place,‚ÄĚ wrote a Twitter user named Jackson Latka.

‚ÄúWas teaching a socmedia course when news broke about Steve Jobs. One of the five most influential business execs of all time,‚ÄĚ wrote Sree Sreenivasan, a Columbia University journalism professor.

‚ÄúThis is why I try to do everything I've ever wanted to, every single day. Live, and live hard. We'll miss him, that's for sure,‚ÄĚ wrote Darren Murph, an editor at the tech site Engadget.

And the tech blog BoingBoing made its entire website into a tribute to Jobs, mimicking the look of an early Apple operating system interface.

[Updated at 9:02 p.m. ET] Robert Iger, president and chief executive, The Walt Disney Company: "Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an 'original,' with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era.

Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time."

[Updated at 8:57 p.m. ET] Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates: "I'm truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs' death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work. Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives. The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely."

[Updated at 8:55 p.m. ET] Reaction from John Russell, a reporter at the Indianapolis Star, on his Facebook page: " iSad."

[Updated at 8:45 p.m. ET] From Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook page: "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."

[Updated at 8:42 p.m. ET] Jobs gave the 2005 commencement address at Stanford. He talked about getting fired from Apple, life and death. Here is the video and text of his speech.

[Updated at 8:37 p.m. ET] President Obama (via his re-election Twitter handle, not the president's official Twitter handle) notes the passing of Steve Jobs:¬† "@BarackObama Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. From all of us at #Obama2012, thank you for the work you make possible every day‚ÄĒincluding ours."

[Updated at 8:30 p.m. ET] Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the news of Steve Jobs' death to Apple employees via e-mail: "I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve‚Äôs extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply e-mail rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve‚Äôs death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much."

[Updated at 8:29 p.m. ET] California Gov. Jerry Brown: "Steve Jobs was a great California innovator who demonstrated what a totally independent and creative mind can accomplish. Few people have made such a powerful and elegant imprint on our lives. Anne and I wish to express our deepest sympathy to Steve‚Äôs wife, Laurene, and their entire family."

[Updated at 8:26 p.m. ET] Here is a statement from Apple‚Äôs Board of Directors: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. Steve‚Äôs brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that
enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts."

[Updated at 8:24 p.m. ET] Wednesday night, the homepage of Apple's website featured a large black-and-white photo of Jobs.

"In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness."

[Updated at 7:48 p.m. ET] "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being," Apple said on its website, announcing the death of co-founder Steve Jobs.

"Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor," the statement said. "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

soundoff(476 Responses)

I'm sure you've used a electronic "something" in your wise years of life. I'm sure you use a computer and have an EMail address, for it not, you'd not be typing on this blog. I'm sure you paid debts with a debit card, played a pinball machine somewhere, have turned on your TV with a remote control and not have to turn a knob anymore.
75 years old or younger. Simply said, I dont think your comment really fits your own lifestyle, even you are a beneficiary
of technology.

In time, I hope that we will begin to see what Steve Jobs really was to the world. He should not be compared to Edison, Einstein, or Ford. He should stand among them as equals. That is to say, his innovations and the way they changed the world for billions will stand the test of time and cement his place as a genius not just for our time, but for all time. In the way we come to recognize the great talent of a sports star, the vision of a political leader,the charisma of a celebrity, the innovation of a scientist, we recognize that Steve was all those things and more. He was one of those rare people that left a permanent footprint on this world. Thank you Steve, you will be missed greatly.

I learned of Mr Jobs death via a text message on my iPhone, I am now typing this comment using my Macbook Pro while I am watching a movie on my Apple TV. Thank you Mr Jobs for your vision that resulted in these wonderful life changing products. RIP

The innovation that Apple has brought into our lives is immense and without its father, hope this Apple won't rot. But if I forget the future, at present, I am very sad to know that one of my mentor is no more with me,

I am a conservative and rarely visit this site, however having grown up with the Atari, the Mac, Amiga and early machines popular in the heyday of the BBS (pre-WWW), I will always conjure images of Steve any time I reminisce about those days.

Regardless of his political, religious or personal views, Steve was a rarity in his genius that truly transcended the daily mundane. I can respect that.

you guys have obviously not achieved much in your lives to understand so little of what he has accomplished. He has affected the everyday life of nearly every American – positively. Even those not using Apple products. You are just simply too myopic to see and understand...which explains your anger. Pathetic!

Natural selection has obviously gone awry. Proof is: you are still around to make such an idiotic post.
Sadly, it is obvious you have not achieved much in your life to understand so little of what he has accomplished.

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